Mason Jar Wedding Invitation

When vintage mason jars are going to be a part of your wedding decor, give guests a sneak peek with this rustic elegant wedding invitation.

Product of the Week: Vision of Love Invitation

Your vision is fine. You’re not imagining things. Our Vision of Love Invitation really IS that gorgeous!

The embossed, laser-cut lace design of the wrap is as fine as any lace adorning a wedding gown or veil. And when a card of ecru shimmer paper printed with your invitation wording is tucked inside, the look is absolutely exquisite.

When guests receive the wedding invitation in the mail, they’ll feel like they’re unwrapping a beautiful gift. And if your wedding invitation is that lovely, they’ll be imagining how wonderful the wedding itself will be!

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Wedding trend: Neutral wedding colors

Neutrals are done taking the back seat. They’re so over being the underlying tone for pops of color. Bland? Don’t EVEN say that about them.

Because neutrals are now taking center stage at weddings – they’re the main event when it comes to unique color schemes.

How do you make a neutral wedding color theme work? Check out the ideas I’ve put together, and you’ll see how neutrals stand out in a way that’s fresh and stylish.

When you think neutral, think beyond white and ecru. Also think beyond using just one color as your theme. Neutrals are rich and varied in tone and temperature, so don’t be afraid to mix them together to create warmth and beauty. For instance, choose warm taupe, a warm grey and a deep cream for an interesting and complex blend.

Afraid your dress won’t stand out? If you choose the right neutrals for bridesmaids’ dresses and accents, it won’t! Dress your maids in darker neutrals like a light chocolate or a deep taupe. Keep your flowers simple, and the bride will definitely be the highlight.

Speaking of flowers, choose a flower type, like a rose, in a single color, like a creamy white. Use the flowers liberally. They won’t compete with your color scheme and they’ll add unexpected touches of beauty everywhere, like your hair.

Neutrals can go a little on the metallic side, so add in some sparkle! Pale gold and a soft silver will stand out in a gorgeous way against the neutrals.

And make sure you introduce your wedding with a subtly styled invitation that will make a big impact, like our Wrapped in Magic wedding invitation. The deckled edges and the textured wrap layer on the interest, making each neutral piece work together for a great impression.

Images: harwellphotography.com, weddingomania.com, weddingchicks.com, weddingpartyapp.com, nyholt.com

Bridal Lace & Pearls

Bridal Lace & Pearls

Aqua Shimmer / Black Shimmer

Lace and pearls create the vintage elegance of this layered invitation featuring aqua shimmer over black shimmer.   Other color options available.

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Order a Sample!
Item Number RRN7845AMBASBS

http://invitinginvites.carlsoncraft.com/Weddings/On-Trend/3149-RRN7845AMBASBS-Bridal-Lace--Pearls--Invitation--Aqua-Shimmer.pro

TIPS FOR ATTENDING A BRIDAL SHOW

How Much Time Should I Spend at Bridal Show?You will want to allocate between 2 and 4 hours of your time, so that you visit with as many wedding exhibitors as possible. Remember, it could take you two months to see the same number of vendors if you drove to each of their locations. Please arrive early to avoid waiting in line and to obtain seating for our bridal runway fashion show. Seating is limited and is on a first come, first serve basis.

Pre-register.Saves time and it might also save you some money by pre-registering online or at a local wedding shop.

Do a little planning before the show.Make a list in your notebook of what you need most and what your budget is for each item/service. But be flexible and leave some room for the unexpected - you never know when you might see something that you absolutely love that you would have never thought of looking for.

Can I take Photos?Yes, take a camera and take pictures of things you like, and then later you can stick them in your notebook. (Be sure to get the vendor's permission first.)

What should I bring to the Bridal Show?As you meet vendors you really connected with make sure to have a system in place to remember them.  We know that by the end of the show you will be so overwhelmed with information it will be very hard to remember what the name of your favorite vendor was. 

Take a tote bag to carry all the brochures and samples you will collect. Fold a corner of the brochure, write something on any material you receive from the vendor, bring a notebook and write down answers to your questions, or better yet get some stickers that will make the vendor stand out among all the others when you open your bags.  Trust us, going through all the materials you receive will be very overwhelming.

Print up some return address stickers with your name, address, phone number, email address and wedding date. Use these instead of having to fill out all those vendor forms by hand. You might also take some 3 X 5 cards with your return address sticker affixed to it in case some vendors run out of entry forms.

Slip a bottle of water into your bag so you won't have to stand in line when you get thirsty.

Bring fabric swatches or ribbons or paper in your wedding colors so you don't waste time trying to describe your colors to the vendors.

Make sure everyone who comes to the show with you has cell phones and that you all have each other's numbers programmed into your phones in case you get split up.

Bring your calendar, day planner or iPhone with you so you can schedule appointments with vendors that you are interested in.

Get a notebook and tie a pen to it with a string. Then use it to make notes of things you like, questions to ask, prices and details you get from vendors, etc. You may visit with 13 different photographers, 5 different florist and 7 different bakers. There's no way you will remember which vendor told you what. Alternatively, you could have your bridesmaid, or a friend write down things for you.

How should I dress?Dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes. You don't want to waste time by having to sit down to rest your feet every 20 minutes.

Don’t be afraid to meet the vendors.After all, this is your best chance to get to see what kind of relationship you can have with a future vendor and what they have to offer.  You also eliminate the wasted time on driving, and consultations just to find out that what the vendor offers is completely not what you’re looking for.  Some vendors focus more on the product, some focus on creativity, and some focus on relationships. 

Ask questions.If you are looking for something in particular or in a certain color, be sure to ask the vendor about it. Vendors don't have room to display everything they offer in a small 10 x 10 booth. It's very possible that they have just what you are looking for.

Are Children Allowed to the Expo?Avoid bringing small children to a bridal show.  Even though your flower girl may think she will have fun seeing all the beautiful wedding stuff, children quickly tire and will detract from your mission of finding vendors and ideas for your wedding.

Fashion ShowFashion previews are the most exciting feature of the show and last about 30 minutes each. They take place throughout the day to give you the chance to see one or all of them.  If you have already chosen your wedding gown and your bridesmaid dresses, you may want to skip the fashion show in order to spend more time with the vendors.

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Merry Christmas 2014

Blooming Blossoms Pocket Invitation

Seven essential things you should consider

before shopping for wedding stationery.

1. Determine how you want your invitations to fit into your wedding vision.

Your wedding invitations should complement the wedding day, offering guests a glimpse of the fun to come. Invitations come in all shapes and sizes and are an excellent opportunity to show your personality. Remember the invitation sets the tone of your wedding, telling guests the formality and style of the event. 

Your invitation is a great place to introduce a significant symbol (tree, birds, hearts, lace, etc…), two-letter monogram {first letters of your names, save the three letter monogram until after you say “I do”}, quote or verse and repeat it again on your programs, menu cards, and other stationery.

 

Bring your inspiration, for both the wedding in general and for stationery, to your appointment. Pictures are a wonderful way to get to know you and provide an excellent visual of your style. You can always send me a link to your Wedding Board on Pintrest prior to your meeting!

 

2. Create your budget for all your stationery needs.

Wedding stationery can range from a few dollars per invitation to more than $20 per invitation. Before your bridal appointment review your wedding budget and determine a comfortable dollar amount you able to spend.

 

So much of the cost depends on the paper selections and printing methods. During your appointment consultation I will tell you about the different paper options and printing methods and guide you to options in your price point. I can show you creative ways to get the most out of your budget.

 

3. Build a well-organized guest list.

Understanding your guest list and how many invitations {households, not people} you need is a must before your appointment! You want to make sure you order extra invitations for those last minute guests and for your scrapbook.  I recommend using a spreadsheet, to organize your guests.

 

4. Decide what information you need to pass onto your guests.

The actual invitation is only one part of your wedding stationery. Often you need to include a response card and/or insert card that includes lodging and direction information. A response card is a great way to get an accurate guest count, before the wedding, note this should be pre-stamped and addressed with the address of the host. Insert cards are particularly helpful if you have a guest list with several out of town guests who need lodging information or if the ceremony/reception location is difficult to find.

 

Before your appointment, make a list of things you might need to tell your guests. At your consultation I will review the list with you and take the information into consideration when showing you stationery styles and etiquette.

 

Guest registry information, however, should not be included in your wedding invitation-ever.  Likewise, you should also leave off the phrase “no gifts please” or anything suggesting guests make a donation in place of a gift. Your wedding invitation should focus on the event and not imply a guest should buy you a gift. However, should you need to spread the word about where your registered or your desires for no gifts it is best to do so by word of mouth or put a tasteful statement on your wedding website

 

5. Discuss, with your family, how your wedding invitation should be worded.

Most traditionally the Bride’s mother and father issue the wedding invitation or host {i.e. pay for} the wedding. But today you will see everything from both the Bride and Groom’s parents to a generic “together with their families,” to the bride and groom themselves issuing the invitation. You need to consider your family dynamics before finalizing who will issue the invitation.

 

“Request the honour of your presence” though the most traditional and best suited for a formal church wedding, this phrase is open to a personal touch that is reflective of the couple.

 

6. Consider the different options for addressing your invitations.

The outside of the envelope is the very first thing your guest is going to see when it arrives in their mailbox, so make the most of the first impression! First, whenever possible avoid using labels, even clear labels. I know it is a “time-saver” but it sends the message of “lazy” to your guests. Presumably the people on your guest list are special to you and taking the time to handwrite their name and address sends a very lovely, thoughtful first impression.

 

However, with that said there are a couple of alternatives that are acceptable. Calligraphy is a beautiful finishing touch to the envelope of your wedding stationery; however it can become costly if you hire a professional. Another alternative is printing the guest addresses directly onto the envelope.  When done well it can offer a lot of personality to the envelope with all the style and thoughtfulness of a hand penned envelope.

 

7. Make sure you have the right postage

Before purchasing postage take one complete invitation to your local post office and have it weighed. This will tell you exactly how much each invitation will cost to mail. If you use several enclosures or have a unique size (square) it will probably require additional postage.

You should plan to send save the dates 6-12 months in advance and wedding

invitations 6-8 weeks before your wedding date.

 

www.invitinginvites.com